US20050255343A1 - Air distribution method and controller for a fuel cell system - Google Patents
Air distribution method and controller for a fuel cell system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20050255343A1 US20050255343A1 US11/185,660 US18566005A US2005255343A1 US 20050255343 A1 US20050255343 A1 US 20050255343A1 US 18566005 A US18566005 A US 18566005A US 2005255343 A1 US2005255343 A1 US 2005255343A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- fuel cell
- air
- storage chamber
- airflow
- controller
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
- H01M8/0606—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants
- H01M8/0612—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants from carbon-containing material
- H01M8/0618—Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
- H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
- H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
- H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
- H01M8/04014—Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
- H01M8/04022—Heating by combustion
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
- H01M8/1007—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
- Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
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- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Sustainable Energy (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Electrochemistry (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Fuel Cell (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to fuel cells, and more particularly to the distribution of air in a fuel cell system.
- Fuel cell systems are increasingly being used as a power source in a wide variety of applications. Fuel cell systems have also been proposed for use in vehicles as a replacement for internal combustion engines. The fuel cells generate electricity that is used to charge batteries or to power an electric motor. A solid-polymer-electrolyte fuel cell includes a membrane that is sandwiched between an anode and a cathode. To produce electricity through an electrochemical reaction, hydrogen (H2) is supplied to the anode and oxygen (O2) is supplied to the cathode. In some systems, the source of the hydrogen is reformate and the source of the oxygen (O2) is air.
- In a first half-cell reaction, dissociation of the hydrogen (H2) at the anode generates hydrogen protons (H+) and electrons (e−). The membrane is proton conductive and dielectric. As a result, the protons are transported through the membrane while the electrons flow through an electrical load (such as the batteries or the motor) that is connected across the membrane. In a second half-cell reaction, oxygen (O2) at the cathode reacts with protons H+), and electrons (e−) are taken up to form water (H2O).
- There are several fuel cell subsystems within a fuel cell system that require a separately controlled source of pressurized air. For example, these fuel cell subsystems include combustors, partial oxidation (POx) reactors, preferential oxidation (PrOx) reactors, the fuel cell stack and/or other fuel cell subsystems. The fuel cell subsystems typically employ mass flow controllers, mass flow sensors and one or more compressors to provide the air.
- When two or more fuel cell subsystems require a controlled amount of pressurized air, some conventional fuel cell systems use a compressor for each subsystem. Each compressor is typically controlled based on the desired airflow that is required by the associated fuel cell subsystem. While this control method is accurate and relatively simple from a control standpoint, the duplication of compressors is undesirable from cost, weight and packaging standpoints.
- In other conventional fuel cell systems, a single compressor supplies the air to all of the fuel cell subsystems. A controller sums the mass flow requirements for all of the fuel cell subsystems. The controller commands the compressor to provide the summed mass flow requirement. In this fuel cell control system, an overflow valve is typically required to bleed off excess air due to system errors. The transient response of this control method is inherently compromised due to coupling between the fuel cell subsystems. This control system also requires significant rework for any changes in the fuel cell system.
- For example, when mass flow-based control is used and five fuel cell subsystems request 1 g/s flow, the controller sums the mass flow rates and attempts to provide 5 g/s. If one of the flow sensors is inaccurate, all of the fuel cell subsystems suffer. If one of the fuel cell subsystems has a faulty mass flow sensor or mass flow controller and the fuel cell subsystem actually achieves 1.5 g/s but requires 1 g/s, each of the other fuel cell subsystems are starved of air. Alternately, if the faulty fuel cell subsystem requests 2 g/s but gets only 1 g/s, all of the other fuel cell subsystems receive too much air. In other words, an error in one fuel cell subsystem causes errors in the delivery of air to all of the other fuel cell subsystems.
- An airflow control system and method for a fuel cell according to the invention includes a compressor that supplies air to a storage chamber. Fuel cell subsystems are connected to the air storage chamber. A sensor measures air pressure in the storage chamber. A controller polls the fuel cell subsystems for a minimum required air pressure. The controller selects a highest minimum required air pressure. The controller controls the compressor to provide the highest minimum required pressure in the storage chamber.
- In other features of the invention, the storage chamber includes tubing or a manifold or both. Each of the fuel cell subsystems includes a flow controller and flow sensor. The controller periodically polls the fuel cell subsystems for the minimum required air pressure. The flow controller preferably includes an electronic throttle valve. The flow sensor preferably includes a hot wire anemometer.
- In other features of the invention, the fuel cell subsystems are selected from the group of combustors, partial oxidation (POx) reactors, preferential oxidation (PrOx) reactors, fuel cell stacks, a cathode inlet of a fuel cell stack, and an anode inlet of a fuel cell stack.
- Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
- The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an airflow control system according to the prior art; -
FIG. 2 is a simplified mass airflow-based control diagram in accordance with the prior art; -
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an airflow control system according to the present invention; -
FIG. 4 is a pressure-based airflow control diagram according to the present invention; and -
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating steps for controlling the compressor according to the present invention. - The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
- Referring now to
FIG. 1 , anair delivery system 10 for afuel cell system 12 is illustrated. Thefuel cell system 12 includes a plurality of fuel cell subsystems 14-1, 14-2, . . . 14-n that require the controlled delivery of air. For example, the fuel cell subsystem 14-1 includes a mass airflow sensor 16-1, a mass airflow controller 18-1, and acombustor 20. The mass airflow sensor 16-1 measures the mass airflow of air flowing through the tubing 22-1. The mass airflow controller 18-1 adjusts and controls the mass airflow to thecombustor 20. As can be appreciated, the mass flow controller 18-1 may be connected to one or more controllers that are associated with thecombustor 20 or other fuel cell subsystems. - The other fuel cell subsystems 14-2, 14-3, . . . , 14-n likewise control the airflow to other fuel cell components. For example, the
POx reactor 24 partially oxidizes the supply fuel to carbon monoxide and hydrogen (rather than fully oxidizing the fuel to carbon dioxide and water). Air and fuel stream are injected into thePOx reactor 24. The advantage of POx over steam reforming of the fuel is that it is an exothermic reaction rather than an endothermic reaction. Therefore, the POx reaction generates its own heat. The mass airflow sensor 16-2 senses the airflow in the tubing 22-2. The mass airflow controller 18-2 adjusts and controls the airflow that is delivered to thePOx reactor 24. The mass airflow controller 18-2 may be connected with one or more controllers that are associated with thePOx reactor 24 or other fuel cell subsystems. - Similarly, mass airflow sensors 16-3, 16-4, 16-5, . . . , 16-n sense airflow in tubing 22-3, 22-4, 22-5, . . . , 22-n. Mass flow controllers 18-3, 18-4, 18-5, . . . , 18-n adjust and control the airflow that is delivered to a preferential oxidation (PrOx)
reactor 26, ananode input 30 of afuel cell stack 31, acathode input 32 of thefuel cell stack 31, and any otherfuel cell subsystems 36 that require air input. - The air is typically supplied by a compressor 37. A cooler 38 cools the air that is output by the compressor 37 to a manifold 40 and/or to the
tubing 22. Amass flow sensor 42 senses the airflow that is produced by the compressor 37. Anairflow controller 50 is connected to themass airflow sensors mass airflow controllers 18, and the compressor 37. Theairflow controller 50 sums the airflow requirements of each of thefuel cell subsystems 14 that require air input. Theairflow controller 50 adjusts and controls the mass airflow of thecompressor 36 to meet the summed airflow demand of thefuel cell subsystems 14. - Referring now to
FIG. 2 , the control strategy of the mass flow-basedairflow controller 50 is illustrated and is generally designated 100. The desired mass flow rate for first, second, . . . , and nthfuel cell subsystems summer 110 to generate a targetmass flow rate 112 for the compressor 37. Theairflow controller 50 commands the compressor 37 to provide the targetmass flow rate 112. In this control system, an overflow valve is typically required to bleed off excess air pressure that accumulates due to system errors. The transient response of this control method is compromised due to the coupling between the fuel cell subsystems. In other words, a control error in one fuel cell subsystem adversely impacts all of the fuel cell subsystems. This control system also requires significant rework for any changes in the fuel cell subsystems. - Referring now to
FIG. 3 , a pressure-basedairflow control system 120 is illustrated. For purposes of clarity, reference numerals fromFIG. 1 have been used where appropriate to identify the same elements. The pressure-basedairflow control system 120 includes apressure sensor 122 that measures air pressure in the manifold 40 and/or thetubing 22. Theairflow controller 50 periodically polls thefuel cell subsystems 14 and requests the minimum air pressure that is required by each of thefuel cell subsystem 14. Thefuel cell subsystems 14 provide the minimum required pressure. If no pressure is required, then thefuel cell subsystems 14 do not respond or respond with zero. One or more of thefuel cell subsystems 14 may have no pressure requirement during a given polling period. Theairflow controller 50 selects the highest minimum pressure from the minimum required pressures output by thefuel cell subsystems 14. Theairflow controller 50 controls the air pressure in the manifold 40 and/ortubing 22 to maintain the highest minimum required pressure for thefuel cell subsystems 14 until the subsequent polling period. - Referring now to
FIG. 3 , the control strategy employed by theairflow controller 50 in the pressure-basedairflow control system 120 is shown in further detail. Theairflow controller 50 monitors the pressure P of air in the manifold 40 and/or thetubing 22. Theairflow controller 50 polls thefuel cell subsystems 14 for their highest minimum pressure. Theairflow controller 50 selects the highest minimum required pressure Pmin. Theairflow controller 50 compares the monitored pressure P in the manifold 40 to the highest minimum required pressure Pmin. - An actual pressure signal 206 that is generated by the
pressure sensor 122 is input to an inverting input of thesummer 204. The highest minimum requiredpressure P min 202 is input to a non-inverting input of thesummer 204. An output of thesummer 204 is input to one or more gain blocks 210 and 212. Thegain block 210 provides a system pressure gain. Thegain block 212 represents other required fuel cell system gains. An output of thegain block 212 is input to asummer 216. An actual or estimated compressormass flow rate 218 is input to thesummer 216. The compressormass flow rate 218 can be estimated from the speed of the compressor 37 and the inlet and outlet pressure of the compressor 37. Anoutput 220 of thesummer 216 is equal to the target mass flow rate for thecompressor 36. - Referring now to
FIG. 5 , steps for controlling the pressure-basedairflow control system 120 are shown in further detail and are generally designated 250. Control begins withstep 252. In step 253, a polling timer that is associated with theairflow controller 124 is reset. Instep 254, theairflow controller 124 polls thefuel cell subsystems 14 for their minimum pressure requirement. Instep 256, theairflow controller 124 selects the highest minimum pressure Pmin that is required by thefuel cell subsystems 14. Instep 258, theairflow controller 124 measures the pressure P in the manifold 40 and/or in thetubing 22. Instep 262, theairflow controller 124 determines whether the polling timer is up. If it is, control continues with step 253. Otherwise, control continues withstep 266. Instep 266, theairflow controller 124 determines whether the measured pressure P exceeds the highest minimum pressure Pmin. If the measured pressure P exceeds the highest minimum pressure Pmin, then control continues withstep 262. If the measured pressure P does not exceed the highest minimum pressure Pmin, control continues withstep 270. Instep 270, the pressure P in the manifold 40 and/or thetubing 22 is increased using thecompressor 36. - In the present invention, the fuel cell subsystem airflow dynamics are directly proportional to the pressure in the manifold and/or the
tubing 22 and are not directly related to the mass flow rate of the compressor 37. The mass flow rate of the compressor 37 indirectly affects the dynamics of thefuel cell subsystems 14 by affecting the rate of change of the pressure P in the manifold 40 and/or thetubing 22. Theairflow controller 124 provides much tighter transient control of the airflow to the fuel cell subsystems. In addition, theairflow controller 124 de-couples the interactions between the fuel cell subsystems to a larger extent than conventional airflow controllers. As a result, the downstream fuel cell subsystems can be more efficiently developed in a distributed manner. - The
airflow controller 124 has improved disturbance rejection as compared to conventional airflow controllers. In addition, the mass airflow sensor that measures compressor airflow can be eliminated to reduce cost due to the lower coupling of the pressure of the pressure based control strategy. The mass flow rate of the compressor 37 can be estimated from the speed and input and output pressures of the compressor 37. The overflow valve or pressure regulator can also be eliminated. The airflow controller according to the present invention requires a single compressor to control the airflow to multiple fuel cell subsystems, which improves cost, complexity, weight and packaging. The airflow controller also supports distributed development of the fuel cell subsystems, simplifies the development process by decoupling the fuel cell subsystems, and increases the potential for modularity. - Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, the specification and the following claims.
Claims (12)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/185,660 US7348084B2 (en) | 2001-12-12 | 2005-07-20 | Air distribution method and controller for a fuel cell system |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/021,727 US6942937B2 (en) | 2001-12-12 | 2001-12-12 | Air distribution method and controller for a fuel cell system |
US11/185,660 US7348084B2 (en) | 2001-12-12 | 2005-07-20 | Air distribution method and controller for a fuel cell system |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US10/021,727 Division US6942937B2 (en) | 2001-12-12 | 2001-12-12 | Air distribution method and controller for a fuel cell system |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20050255343A1 true US20050255343A1 (en) | 2005-11-17 |
US7348084B2 US7348084B2 (en) | 2008-03-25 |
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ID=21805803
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US10/021,727 Expired - Lifetime US6942937B2 (en) | 2001-12-12 | 2001-12-12 | Air distribution method and controller for a fuel cell system |
US11/185,660 Expired - Lifetime US7348084B2 (en) | 2001-12-12 | 2005-07-20 | Air distribution method and controller for a fuel cell system |
Family Applications Before (1)
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US10/021,727 Expired - Lifetime US6942937B2 (en) | 2001-12-12 | 2001-12-12 | Air distribution method and controller for a fuel cell system |
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US (2) | US6942937B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4033389B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE10247541B4 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050266282A1 (en) * | 2004-05-27 | 2005-12-01 | Noetzel John G | Fuel cell system having integrated central control function |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE10146943B4 (en) * | 2001-09-24 | 2017-05-24 | General Motors Llc ( N. D. Ges. D. Staates Delaware ) | Method for operating a fuel cell system and fuel cell system |
US6670064B2 (en) * | 2002-04-30 | 2003-12-30 | General Motors Corporation | Air supply pressure setpoint determination for a fuel cell power module |
DE10233135A1 (en) * | 2002-07-20 | 2004-02-12 | Smc Pneumatik Gmbh | Device for reducing the consumption of gaseous media in pressurized gas plants |
US20050244681A1 (en) * | 2002-10-30 | 2005-11-03 | Len Gregory D | Method and system for controlling fluid flow in a fuel processing system |
US7396604B2 (en) * | 2003-10-29 | 2008-07-08 | General Motors Corporation | Centrifugal compressor surge detection using a bi-directional MFM in a fuel cell system |
DE102007019361A1 (en) * | 2007-04-23 | 2008-10-30 | J. Eberspächer GmbH & Co. KG | Calibration method for a fuel cell controller |
KR101303392B1 (en) * | 2011-12-21 | 2013-09-04 | 주식회사 효성 | Gaseous fuel supply device of fuel cell system and fuel cell systemincluding the same |
DE102021125879A1 (en) | 2021-05-10 | 2022-11-10 | Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG | Air routing module of a fuel cell and method for operating a fuel cell |
Citations (5)
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US5186150A (en) * | 1990-09-07 | 1993-02-16 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Method and system for measuring fluid flow rate by using fuzzy inference |
US20020006537A1 (en) * | 2000-05-30 | 2002-01-17 | Tomoki Kobayashi | Gas-supplying apparatus, gas-supplying mechanism and gas-supplying process in fuel cell |
US20020164515A1 (en) * | 2001-05-04 | 2002-11-07 | Oglesby Keith Andrew | System and method for supplying air to a fuel cell for use in a vehicle |
US6497972B1 (en) * | 1999-07-09 | 2002-12-24 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Fuel cell system and method for controlling operating pressure thereof |
US20030072984A1 (en) * | 2001-10-17 | 2003-04-17 | Saloka George Steve | System and method for rapid preheating of an automotive fuel cell |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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JPH09315801A (en) * | 1996-03-26 | 1997-12-09 | Toyota Motor Corp | Fuel reforming method, fuel reformer and fuel-cell system provided with the reformer |
-
2001
- 2001-12-12 US US10/021,727 patent/US6942937B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2002
- 2002-10-11 DE DE10247541.5A patent/DE10247541B4/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-10-15 JP JP2002300892A patent/JP4033389B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2005
- 2005-07-20 US US11/185,660 patent/US7348084B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5186150A (en) * | 1990-09-07 | 1993-02-16 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Method and system for measuring fluid flow rate by using fuzzy inference |
US6497972B1 (en) * | 1999-07-09 | 2002-12-24 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Fuel cell system and method for controlling operating pressure thereof |
US20020006537A1 (en) * | 2000-05-30 | 2002-01-17 | Tomoki Kobayashi | Gas-supplying apparatus, gas-supplying mechanism and gas-supplying process in fuel cell |
US20020164515A1 (en) * | 2001-05-04 | 2002-11-07 | Oglesby Keith Andrew | System and method for supplying air to a fuel cell for use in a vehicle |
US20030072984A1 (en) * | 2001-10-17 | 2003-04-17 | Saloka George Steve | System and method for rapid preheating of an automotive fuel cell |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050266282A1 (en) * | 2004-05-27 | 2005-12-01 | Noetzel John G | Fuel cell system having integrated central control function |
US7323264B2 (en) * | 2004-05-27 | 2008-01-29 | Delphi Technologies, Inc. | Fuel cell system having integrated central control function |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US6942937B2 (en) | 2005-09-13 |
DE10247541A1 (en) | 2003-07-03 |
DE10247541B4 (en) | 2015-05-13 |
US20030186096A1 (en) | 2003-10-02 |
JP4033389B2 (en) | 2008-01-16 |
JP2003187834A (en) | 2003-07-04 |
US7348084B2 (en) | 2008-03-25 |
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